Best Cheap 10 inch Android Head Unit??

Best Cheap 10 inch Android Head Unit??

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Discussion

OutInTheShed

Original Poster:

9,368 posts

33 months

Wednesday 20th July 2022
quotequote all
I'm looking at getting one of these for my boat.

Features I want:

Daylight viewable
No front panel controls that can't be waterproofed
Not expensive.
GPS

There are loads on ebay, for example
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/373967818287?hash=item5...

Ideally I'd like more screen resolution than 1024 x 600 though.

It's to run a navigation app on.
I'm currently using a Samsung tablet which is AFAIK 1280 x 800 pixels and that's OK.

Any thoughts?

DennisCooper

1,340 posts

178 months

Friday 22nd July 2022
quotequote all
Hi,

You'll need a head unit that has been designed and manufactured for Marine use.

None of the chinese unbranded cheapy head units will be this grade, they're not really automotive grade either !

There are dedicated Marine spec head units out there.

If you don't mind the risk that a chinese unit gets issues, problems or just fails after a relative short time and would just throw another one in, then choose anything that matches the functions you want - none of them are any better or more reliable than the others as they all come out of the same 3/4 factories somewhere in China !

Cheers, Dennis!

OutInTheShed

Original Poster:

9,368 posts

33 months

Saturday 23rd July 2022
quotequote all
DennisCooper said:
Hi,

You'll need a head unit that has been designed and manufactured for Marine use.

None of the chinese unbranded cheapy head units will be this grade, they're not really automotive grade either !

There are dedicated Marine spec head units out there.

If you don't mind the risk that a chinese unit gets issues, problems or just fails after a relative short time and would just throw another one in, then choose anything that matches the functions you want - none of them are any better or more reliable than the others as they all come out of the same 3/4 factories somewhere in China !

Cheers, Dennis!
I'm not aware of any 'marine grade' android head units, but I'll have a google.
The issue is that a marine chart plotter and charts is sufficiently expensive that buying a Chinese cheapy for under £100, plus the Android Navionics license at ~£40 a year which I already use on my phone and a tablet makes a lot of sense.
I do have paper charts and qualifications in 'retro navigation', but it makes sense to make life easier with the toys.

I've not been impressed by 'marine' CD head units etc on other people's boats.